When looking around Dublin’s city center at 3 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, you could be forgiven for thinking you had been temporarily teleported directly into an episode of Tallafornia. You’ll be sure to see lightweights getting sick in gutters. Or gangs of hen and stag parties, fully fitted out with matching t-shirts and flashing head gear. Plus the ever present lads and lasses on their way home, hand in hand after getting lucky or unlucky, only time will tell. All of these are a common sight in and around the cobble stoned streets of Temple Bar but look a little deeper and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll find, a flourishing underground post club after party scene.

So, if like us you feel that you deserve the option to keep partying when the clock strikes three, you’ll be glad to know that your wish has been granted. In the third and final part of Wunderground’s complete guide to Dublin’s after party scene we’ll be giving you the low down on where to go when the club’s doors close.

What To Expect

The hours after 3 a.m. have always been a troublesome time for club goers who like to keep’er lit into the early hours. In the old days people used to simply go home or head to a house party to sit and count the minutes until the off licences opened. Well, not any more, this is 2013 and people are sick off being told what they can and can’t do. These once feared hours, have now been made redundant by the ever increasing number of parties that only open once everything else closes. Expect to experience a full on club atmosphere with sound systems and lighting rigs to boot. Whether you’re floating on the Liffey in a disused German police barge or in an out of the way disused warehouse one thing you can be sure of is wherever you end up you’ll be served up some quality tunes by the finest DJs Dublin has to offer. You’ll be joined by other like minded people in a friendly atmosphere, milking the night’s debauchery for every last drop. These parties will suck you in, chew you up and spit you out, all in time for the first bus home.

Where To Look

In every corner of every smoking area….there’s an after party. In front of every row of toilets in every bathroom….there’s an after party. In every queue of every cloakroom….there’s an after party. In every last orders stampede at every bar…..You get the message, word of mouth is how you will find out about these parties and we all know how loose tongues become in the wee hours of the morning! They’re not exactly legal so it would be simply irresponsible for me to give away too much information but a combination of ears open, eyes peeled and not acting the maggot should be good enough to ensure you find what your looking for. There are also Facebook groups that announce upcoming parties, ask around and keep a look out for them and you’ll be sure to find somewhere to go.

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What Will It Cost

Entry for these parties is usually somewhere in the region of €10. There may be ticket sellers in clubs beforehand selling tickets, sometimes at a slightly reduced price. We recommend you take this option if available as once the venue is full you will not get in. Inside you might have the option to buy drink, expect to pay the same as or even slightly more than you would in a club, still very reasonable all things considered. If you do intend to go to one of these parties make sure to respect the neighborhood by being quiet on your way in and out. The longer these things go under the radar the more we get to party!

Why not tell Wunderground your best/worst after party stories by leaving us a comment.

Photography via Chachou Grenson Photography